Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorbill Alca torda | LC | breeding (1998) | 22,900 individuals | A4ii, B1ii, B3, C3 |
| Common Murre Uria aalge | LC | breeding (1998) | 32,470 individuals | B1ii, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | breeding (1998) | 52,959 breeding pairs | A4iii, C4 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | very unfavourable | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| European Shag Gulosus aristotelis | 278 / 720 (breeding pairs) | 39 | very unfavourable | ||
| Razorbill Alca torda | 22,900 / 16,866 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Common Murre Uria aalge | 32,470 / 31,940 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | 52,959 / 45,806 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 6,004 / 10,010 (breeding pairs) | 60 | unfavourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Mingulay and Berneray | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 90 |
| 2011 | Mingulay and Berneray | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 9 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | Humid grasslands; Machair |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - | |
| Shrubland | - | Heathland |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mingulay and Berneray (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mingulay-and-berneray-iba-united-kingdom on 06/01/2025.